Label-holder.



No. 707,782. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

G. E. HOWARD.

LABEL HOLDER.

( Applicatjon filed Apr. 8, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

Hii zsszs I r J 6 fiz aagim' 1.2 vw w STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. HOYVABD, OF l/VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LABEL-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,782, dated August 26, 1902.

Application filed April 8, 1902. Serial No. 101,923. (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Golumbia, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Label-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in label-holders, the object being to provide a device for holding labels, as the title implies, while they are being removed therefrom one at a time by hand in the process of applying them to the object or article to which the labels or similar devices held thereby are to be affixed.

Another object is to provide a device which will prevent the removal of more than one of these labels or similar articles at a time.

Still a further object is to provide means for holding the labels compactly and in convenient position for effecting their quick and easy removal from the holder.

Another object is to apply equal pressure to the contents of the holder whether it has its full complement of labels or they are partially exhausted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my present invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a rear view with a modified form of back.

A represents a box comprising a bottom 1, sides 2 2 at right angles thereto and preferably cut away at their forward edges, as at 3 3, and a back a, inclined at an angle to the bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, and cut away through the center, as at 5, forming a U- shaped recess to receive the operators thumb. These parts are all made in one integral casting or else rigidly secured together, and the size and capacity of the box thus formed is intended to receive a package of labels, as I generally pack them together, of about two hundred and fifty labels. The sides 2 2 are slotted from top to bottom, as shown at 6 6, these slots extending parallel with the back plate 4 and preferably opening at their upper ends in the edges of the side plates, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

B indicates a package of labels, (shown in position in Figs. 1 and 2,) and O is a weight which rests upon them, it being of sufficient size and exerting sufficient pressure to hold the labels togetherwiththe required compactness. This weight is preferably shaped in crosssection, about as indicated in the drawings, with a rounded lower surface Where it bears upon the labels in a straight line across their area and forward of the axis of support of the weight. The weight is provided at each end with journals 7 7, and on these antifriction-rollers 8 S are supported to turn. These rollers are fitted to the edges of the slots 6 6, wherein they gradually descend with a minimum of friction, due to their use, as the labels are removed from the holder, the action being wholly automatic, or, in other words, the weight descending by gravity as fast as the labels are removed. A spring 9 at the top, as shown in Fig. 2, or a clip 10, pivoted at 11 to one of the sides, as shown in Fig. 1,

is provided to prevent the accidental removal of'the weight and at the same time to permit its removal when desired in order to replenish the holder. As a means for preventing the la bels from sliding bodily from the open forward end of the holdera guard-plate 12 is provided. This is secured rigidly to a cross-bar. 14 at the forward end of the frame 13, and this frame 13 is secured to the journals 7 7 just outside of the sides 2 2, the frame being large enough to embrace the latter. The connection between the frame and the weight must be rigid,and the guard-plate 12 is also rigidly connected with the frame. The lower end of the guard-plate is guided loosely through a slot 15 in the forward end of the bottom 1. In this way the weight, frame, and guardplate maintain a constant relation to one an other, and the slots 6 6 in the sides and 15 in the bottom guide the movable parts so that they bear a constant and uniform relation to the labels as these parts descend. To facilitate the easy removal of the labels from the top, a curved lip 16 is provided at the forward end of the frame 13.

D indicates the handle. This is disposed, preferably, at about the angle shown in Fig.

ICO

2, which is convenient for the operator as he places his fingers of the left hand around it, while his thumb is free to press upon the weight, if need be, the opening'5 in the rear 4 being provided as clearance-space for the thumb.

In Fig. 3 in lieu of the springs 9 and clips 10 for permitting the removal of the frame and weight for replenishing the holder the back is hinged at its lower end, as at 17, to the bottom 1, and it is held at the upper end by aspring-catch 18. So it will be understood that the entire frame 13, with the weight 0 and the guard-plate 12, may be bodily removed when a new package of labels is to be inserted, or, as shown in the modification, instead of this the back may be swung back and the weight and connected parts simply raised above the label-space or to the top of the holder, and a package of labels may then be slid in beneath the weight, after which the back is closed.

In the operation of removing the labels one is slid ofi at a time by pressing the thumb outwardly over the uppermost label, and the forefinger resting beneath the lip 16 catches the label from beneath as it protrudes over the lip, and then the operator has it in convenient position to apply the label to the article to be labeled.

It is evident that other slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not desire to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, a labelholder, consisting of a box having the bottom and rear disposed at an acute angle to each other, and a gravity-weight adapted to rest upon the labels, having sliding connection with the box and carrying a guard-plate in front of the outer edge of the labels.

2. As an article of manufacture, a labelholder consisting of a box-having bottom, rear and sides and open at the front and top, a weight having sliding connection with the sides and a guard-plate connected with the weight and having sliding connection with the forward edge of the box.

3. As an article of manufacture, a labelholder comprising a box adapted to receive the labels, a gravity-weight adapted to rest loosely on the labels and retain them in the box, a frame connected with the weight and carrying a guard-plate which extends in front of the labels and prevents their sliding bodily from the holder.

4. As an article of manufacture, a labelholder comprising a box having sides and bottom adapted to receive the labels, a gravityweight adapted to rest loosely on the labels and retain them in the box, and a frame connected with the weight and carrying a guardplate which'extends in front of the labels and cooperates with the sides and bottom of the box to prevent their sliding bodily from the holder.

5. As an article of manufacture, a labelholder consisting of a box open at the forward end and a gravity-weight having a sliding connection with the box and resting upon the labels held in the box, a frame connected with the weight and extending forwardly to embrace the forward edge of the uppermost labels and a guard-plate secured to this frame and extending downwardly therefrom and having sliding connection with the box,whereby the frame, weight and plate maintain a uniform relative position in their descent with respect to the box.

6. As an article of manufacture, a labelholder consisting of a box, a weight having sliding connection therewith, a frame carrying a curved or rounded lip at its outer end over which the labels are slid and a guardplate depending from the frame and having sliding connection with the box.

7. The combination with the box of a labelholder, of a weight, frame and guard-plate connected together,having sliding connection with the box at front and rear thereof and removably connected with the box.

8. The combination with a box having slotted sides and bottom, of a weight having bearings which extend through the slotted sides of the box, a guard-plate extending through the slot in the bottom, and a frame connecting the guard-plate with the weight.

9. The combination with a box having slo tted sides and bottom,of a weight having bearings which extend through the slotted sides of the box, a guard-plate extending through the slot in the bottom, a frame connecting the guard-plate with the weight and means for retainin g the weight, frame and guard-plate removably in place.

10. The combination withabox having slotted sides and bottom, of a Weight having bearings which extend through the slotted sides of the box, a guard-plate extending through the slot in the bottom, a frame connecting the guard-plate with the weight, and antifrictionrollers journaled on the bearings and fitted to the slots in the sides of the box.

11. In a label-holder the combination with a receptacle having sides and bottom, of a keeper or guard-plate against which and the sides the edges of the labels rest, said keeper or guard-plate having sliding connection with the holder and constructed and adapted to descend automatically as the labels are withdrawn from the holder.

12. In a label-holder the combination with a receptacle having sides and bottom, of a keeper or guard-plate against which and the sides the edges of the labels rest, said keeper or guard-plate having sliding connection with the holder and constructed and adapted to descend automatically as the labels are with drawn from the holder, and means resting on the labels in the holder'for regulating and and adapted to receive labels, of a frame and a guard carried thereby beyond the outer I 5 edges of the labels, said frame supported upon the labels whereby the guard is lowered automatically by the removal of the labels.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 2o ing witnesses.

GEO. E. HOW'ARD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W001),

FRANK P. 'HOWARD. 

